Prescribed Fire Planned in Valkaria for 10/1/2013

(Brevard County, Fla.) - A 100-acre prescribed fire in Valkaria (south of the airport) is planned for Tuesday, October 1, 2013 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Prescribed Fire involves the careful application of fire by professionals under specific weather and fuel conditions in hopes of achieving environmental resource management goals.  Benefits include reduction of wildfire risk, habitat restoration and the recycling of nutrients back into the soil.

By: Lieutenant Don Slayman

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Working Commercial Struture Fire in Mims Meat Market

 (Brevard County, Fla.) - A local Mims meat market and grocery store sustained damage today as a result of a fire in the rear of the store.  Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) received notification shortly after 3:50 p.m. that the grocery store on Main Street (S.R. 46) and Taylor Ave was on fire.  

Upon arrival of BCFR firefighters, smoke was visible on the "Charlie side" (rear) of the building.  Crews quickly determined the fire was in a storage area, near a smoker / grill.  E22 deployed a hoseline and went into an offensive strategy, meaning they attacked the fire from inside the structure, in hopes of saving the rest of the building.

E21 established a water supply via a fire hydrant, which closed Taylor Ave from S.R. 46 to Church Street.  The rest of E21's crew conducted a primary search to ensure no employees or customers were inside the store.  Their search was successful and they quickly had an "all clear" on the building, meaning no one was inside.

Additional crews provided the much needed manpower since a significant amount of smoke was in the attic and other void spaces.  Anytime large void spaces (such as "roof overs", attics, or behind walls) exist, the chance for hidden fire lurks.  These additional crews exposed any void spaces to ensure no hidden fire existed.

An additional hoseline was deployed from E22 to provide backup to the fire attack crew.  The fire attack crew was able to knock down the main body of fire within 20 minutes of receiving the 911 call and did an excellent job of saving the rest of the building.

A BCFR fire inspector was called to the scene to aid in determining the cause of the fire, but there were no indications of suspicion.

Members of the Mims Volunteer Fire Department were also on scene to provide additional manpower; the Brevard County Sheriff Office had deputies on scene to assist in traffic control.

By: Lieutenant Don Slayman

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Prescribed Burn in Scottsmoor Scheduled for 09/11/2013

(Brevard County, Fla) - A 65-acre prescribed fire within the Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary is planned for Wednesday, September 11th between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.  The Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary is located south of SR5A between US1 and I-95 in Scottsmoor.

Prescribed Fire involves the careful application of fire by professionals under specific weather and fuel conditions in hopes of achieving environmental resource management goals.  Benefits include reduction of wildfire risk, habitat restoration and the recycling of nutrients back into the soil

By: Lieutenant Don Slayman

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Barefoot Bay Brush Fire

(Barefoot Bay, Fla) - Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) responded to the area of Honeysuckle Drive in Barefoot Bay for a brush fire.  Upon arrival, crews found a vehicle fire has apparently started a significant brush fire.  The vehicle fire started near the north end of Honeysuckle Dr and caused the 500-foot-wide brush fire to move southwest, towards Wagon Master Trail.  It quickly grew to an estimated 40+ acres, but that was only an initial estimate.

Additional resources were called because of the possibility of structural endangerment.  If the fire continued southwest, 3 homes and 4 occupied stables would have been threatened.  At 6:01 p.m., however, only one structure was endangered.

Because of the size of the fire and limited access, assistance was requested from the Florida Forest Service (FFS).

A resource staging area has been established at Wagon Master Trail and Fleming Grant Road.  The resources were as follows: 9 engines, 3 District Chiefs, 4 water tenders, 11 brush trucks, 2 "dozers" from Florida Forest Service, Brevard County Sheriff Office and several Command Staff Chiefs.

Mutual aid was requested from the following agencies: Palm Bay, Malabar Volunteer Fire, Melbourne, Indian River County, Four Communities Volunteer Fire and Mims Volunteer Fire.

The weather extended its hand in assistance shortly before 7:30 p.m. and allowed the Incident Commander to release most of the resources.

Expect smoldering spots and smoke to remain in the area, but the immediate threat has subsided (7:29 p.m.).

By: Lieutenant Don Slayman

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